QUOTE
Then the blessed author said: rati premamaya parabandhe, meaning: "May I be lovingly attached to the books that were lovingly made by the Mahajanas of my own sampradaya (tradition), who are great knowers of Sri Krsna-bhakti rasa." Books like Sripada Rupa and Raghunatha's Stavamala and Stavavali and Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja's Govinda Lilamrta are most relishable for the Gaudiya Vaisnava sadhakas practising manjari bhava, and these books greatly enhance their own bhava. Each syllable of these books of the Mahajanas is premamaya, filled with prema - premamaya aksara yahara. Each syllable of the scriptures composed the Mahajanas is permeated by the rasa of their realizations, therefore they are greatly capable of cleansing the heart of all impurities and bestowing prema bhakti. This Prema Bhakti Candrika of Srila Thakura Mahasaya is one of them. In connection with this I am mentioning an event that really took place:
Once a high ranking government official (Judge) stayed in Ambika Kalna in West Bengal for a few days to perform some duties. At that time Siddha Sri Bhagavan das Babaji Maharaja was manifest in this world. Having heard about Siddha Baba's glories from the local residents, the judge went at once to see him. When Siddha Baba was him coming he asked him why he had come, and the gentleman said, "Baba! Tell me how prema bhakti can be achieved!"
Siddha Baba immediately said, "Prema bhakti can be purchased for two anas (a very small amount in colonial India, like 5 paisa)!"
When the gentleman heard these words of Siddha Baba he was a little taken back and said, "Baba! Why are you joking with me?"
Siddha Baba replied with determination, "It's not a joke; for two anas you can buy Srila Narottama Thakura Mahasaya's Prema Bhakti Candrika in Calcutta's Bata-tala. Always read this and you will attain prema bhakti."
Once a high ranking government official (Judge) stayed in Ambika Kalna in West Bengal for a few days to perform some duties. At that time Siddha Sri Bhagavan das Babaji Maharaja was manifest in this world. Having heard about Siddha Baba's glories from the local residents, the judge went at once to see him. When Siddha Baba was him coming he asked him why he had come, and the gentleman said, "Baba! Tell me how prema bhakti can be achieved!"
Siddha Baba immediately said, "Prema bhakti can be purchased for two anas (a very small amount in colonial India, like 5 paisa)!"
When the gentleman heard these words of Siddha Baba he was a little taken back and said, "Baba! Why are you joking with me?"
Siddha Baba replied with determination, "It's not a joke; for two anas you can buy Srila Narottama Thakura Mahasaya's Prema Bhakti Candrika in Calcutta's Bata-tala. Always read this and you will attain prema bhakti."
p. 164
